Issue Briefs

December 2020. Racism as a Public Health Issue

December 2020. Racism as a Public Health Issue

Racism acts at various levels in society and can pose barriers to health equity. This issue brief will highlight the three levels of racism and how racism adversely impacts the health of certain racial and ethnic groups in the United States.
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October 2020. Pandemics and US Preparedness

October 2020. Pandemics and US Preparedness

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus highlighted the importance of adequate preparation and response needed to minimize the negative effects of such a pandemic. This brief covers the conditions under which pandemics may occur, monitoring of pandemics, and the state of pandemic preparedness in the US.
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August 2020. Breastfeeding and US Health Policy

August 2020. Breastfeeding and US Health Policy

In recognition of August being National Breastfeeding Month, this brief explores the state of breastfeeding in the US, socioeconomic and racial disparities that persist, and opportunities for health policy to improve breastfeeding rates.
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July 2020. Minority Health in the United States

July 2020. Minority Health in the United States

Racial and ethnic minorities in the United States experience differences in health outcomes as a result of many complex, interdependent factors. As the demographic makeup of this nation changes with the collective number of racial minorities representing more than half the population, improving minority health outcomes will be crucial for the wellbeing of our nation.
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June 2020. SPECIAL EDITION. Air Quality in Eastern Coachella Valley

June 2020. SPECIAL EDITION. Air Quality in Eastern Coachella Valley

The Eastern Coachella Valley is experiencing poor air quality due to various pollutants. However, there is a lack of real-time data available in the region to residents and policy makers. This brief calls for a more active role by the state government to help support placement and monitoring of air quality data sensors in the region.
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March 2020. Childhood Food Insecurity and School Meals

March 2020. Childhood Food Insecurity and School Meals

Millions of food insecure children receive a large amount of their caloric intake from school meal programs. There must be an emphasis on protecting federal nutrition standards and expanding the eligibility criteria of the school meal programs to ensure that every child has access to healthy meals during school.
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February 2020. Intimate Partner Violence

February 2020. Intimate Partner Violence

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a public health issue that affects millions of people regardless of education, economic status, sexual orientation, race and ethnicity. The abuse can lead to various health problems as well as economic and societal impacts. This brief discusses IPV, the causes, the effects, and various ways to address IPV to help prevent it.
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